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Never posted here before, but I have a pretty specific situation and have heard this is the place to find the experts.
I just switched from a Verizon Samsung Galaxy S3 to a Verizon Motorola Droid Turbo 64gb. I have a Samsung SCS-2U01 Network Extender through Verizon because I am in a strange dead pocket for their network, as in I can barely get 1-3 bars of 1x normally and phones like to drop calls at my house. So, with my GS3 and my wife's Note 3, everything was fine and dandy, phones connect when you walk in the house, and stay connected.
When I just switched to the Droid Turbo, the phone connects to the Network Extender when I walk into the house (shows the little "house" emblem), but as soon as some Wi-Fi action takes place (which it automatically connects to as well), the little house emblem disappears, and I appear to not be on the Network Extender anymore. By the way, I do have the Extender configured via the website to allow our two numbers only to connect. Strangely, when I call #48 it says I AM connected.... weird.
When checking in the phone settings, I am in fact not connected anymore, and have -85 to -90 dBmW of 1x signal.
When I turn the Wi-Fi off, it reconnects to the Extender and I have -75dBmW of 3G and the house emblem appears again.
When I try to pull in an MMS message, it fails (having only 1x signal) and the phone sits there just getting hot, and PLOWING through battery.
I have seen a post on here about a similar issue that links the problem to Motorola's use of a single antenna for Wi-Fi and cell network. So, I understand the root of the issue being Motorala's decision to use a single radio chip.
My question is: is there another solution? Is there a way to force a sustained connection? Do I just need to get a different phone with two separate chips? The Samsung seem to handle it well, maybe the LG G3? Verizon seems stumped about this one, and will let me exchange until Jan 15. I figured I would consult here first.
I'm happy to provide any more info.
JR
Typically when on Stable wifi, Android does indeed turn off Cell Radio for Data connection so as to save Battery. However, in your case, being one common radio makes a double whammy. The phone must turn off Data in order to get on WiFi.
So in your case, although the phone's display won't show it, you still have got bars that'd let you make or receive calls while connected to WiFi. As to Texts, it could be deal breaker for you. I do believe Verizon needs to have Data Connection On in order to receive MMS or texts. In which case, this device is no good, especially considering the dead zone you are in. You *could* switch to Google Voice to send and receive texts but that's a workaround to be honest.
Last but not the least,please review Wi-Fi issue you might want to post there and get a second opinion from one of the Experts for your device.
Its not been highly publicised to my opinion but the LG Urbane that was recalled last year was released April 1st. I have the old one and returned it and now have the latest release. The watch looks the same. I can't really find much on the specs to see if they changed the processor or anything else. They have addressed some of the issues with the first gen. This is my unboxing video I will have a impressions coming this weekend,
https://youtu.be/EhQA4SdAcDQ
Known Issues:
No Headset support for calls - FIXED
No streaming audio via LTE - Not Fixed
OK Google without the tether to phone or wifi - This is working now. I have been having connectivity issues and now have a different watch. Updated 4/3
Maps without the phone - Partial fix. You can bring up the maps and see your location but no navigation
ATT Number SYNC - Fixed and work really well
Can use GPS for running standalone with Google FIT and Endomodo - FIXED (does not work with run keeper) Updated 4/3
Most if not all watchfaces from Watchmaker work like a charm.
Things that have improved are charging speeds are crazy fast. I am still testing this area as well as battery consumption.
Battery on standby seems to be improved. I had the watch on all night on my wrist, cell active on the watch and wifi. in 8 hours it consumed 4% battery
Let me know what else you recall would not work and I will try to check it out. I am on AT&T
Tip: AT&T was giving $100 dollar credit due to recall. Some have had success taking the LG Urbane 2 orignal back and traded it for the new one and got $100 credit. Sadly that was not my case.
Audio playback doesn't seem to be on par with Samsung S2. The LG Urbane is not as loud and sounds somewhat tiny.
---------------------------- VIDEO UPDATE 4/7/2016 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All, I recorded this video with my impressions of what is fixed and what's not. It's a long video but it covers most of my experience with the watch. I hope it will help you make an educated buying decision.
https://youtu.be/VvzQfAQTzIA
ebpman said:
Its not been highly publicised to my opinion but the LG Urbane that was recalled last year was released April 1st. I have the old one and returned it and now have the latest release. The watch looks the same. I can't really find much on the specs to see if they changed the processor or anything else. They have addressed some of the issues with the first gen. This is my unboxing video I will have a impressions coming this weekend,
https://youtu.be/EhQA4SdAcDQ
Known Issues:
No Headset support for calls - FIXED
No streaming audio via LTE - Not Fixed
OK Google without the tether to phone or wifi - Not Fixed
Maps without the phone - Partial fix. You can bring up the maps and see your location but no navigation
ATT Number SYNC - Fixed and work really well
Can use GPS for running standalone with Google FIT - FIXED (does not work with run keeper)
Things that have improved are charging speeds are crazy fast. I am still testing this area as well as battery consumption.
Battery on standby seems to be improved. I had the watch on all night on my wrist, cell active on the watch and wifi. in 8 hours it consumed 4% battery
Let me know what else you recall would not work and I will try to check it out. I am on ATT
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any way for you to test NumberSync in an area that has less than LTE service? The reason I ask is they are limiting that feature to phones that they label as HDvoice capable, which leaves me with a Nexus 6 unable to use it.
adfurgerson said:
Is there any way for you to test NumberSync in an area that has less than LTE service? The reason I ask is they are limiting that feature to phones that they label as HDvoice capable, which leaves me with a Nexus 6 unable to use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I heard that unfortunately I don't have a non hd phone at this time.
ebpman said:
Yeah, I heard that unfortunately I don't have a non hd phone at this time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, not actually what I was asking. From what I understand HDvoice needs LTE to work , in my area there are plenty of towers that are still HSPA+. I'm just trying to figure out if HDvoice is actually required for NumberSync to work, or if AT&T is using that as a means to force the purchase of a new phone. So my question is whether it works on a network other than LTE, as for the non HD phone you wouldn't be able to NumberSync to it as that is the issue I'm facing.
adfurgerson said:
Thanks, not actually what I was asking. From what I understand HDvoice needs LTE to work , in my area there are plenty of towers that are still HSPA+. I'm just trying to figure out if HDvoice is actually required for NumberSync to work, or if AT&T is using that as a means to force the purchase of a new phone. So my question is whether it works on a network other than LTE, as for the non HD phone you wouldn't be able to NumberSync to it as that is the issue I'm facing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry can't tell. I can say that I will not be using Number sync going forward if performance stays where I see it now. Google voice is a better option, battery life seems to tank with numbersync on. I have been using the watch as a stand alone device. Not paired with my primary phone. I have it paired to my tablet. It doesn't last a full day with numbersync on.
ebpman said:
Sorry can't tell. I can say that I will not be using Number sync going forward if performance stays where I see it now. Google voice is a better option, battery life seems to tank with numbersync on. I have been using the watch as a stand alone device. Not paired with my primary phone. I have it paired to my tablet. It doesn't last a full day with numbersync on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the Sony SmartWatch 2 so I wasn't in a rush to jump into Android Wear, then waited quite a while till this watch was rereleased only to find I can't use the main function properly. As a work around I have forwarded unanswered calls to my watch and left forwarding to voicemail if on another call with phone. Just downloaded an app that lets regular apps be pushed to watch over Bluetooth and am going to test apps for spoofing phone numbers to see if it can make outgoing calls from watch appear as if call came from my phones number. I'll have to look into Google voice, thanks again for the info.
@ebpman my idea to spoof my phones number with an app on the watch isn't practical as all the apps I have found are paid service. If you get time and are feeling generous could you give a quick rundown of how a Google number workaround ring both devices. Also what do you think would happen if you set the Google number to ring your phone and at the same time forwarded your phone's calls to your Google number? Phoneception?
adfurgerson said:
Is there any way for you to test NumberSync in an area that has less than LTE service? The reason I ask is they are limiting that feature to phones that they label as HDvoice capable, which leaves me with a Nexus 6 unable to use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had numbersync working on my gear S2 with an unlocked Sony phone, but I had to have a customer service rep change my imei online to an HD voice phone. It worked perfectly fine until I bought a different phone and my imei changed online, and I no longer have the old imei I gave to CS.
But I can verify the HD voice limitation is a way for them to force you to own one of their phones. I had full functionality when I had it tricked into working.
Numbersync did use a large amount of battery.
runningwarrior08 said:
I had numbersync working on my gear S2 with an unlocked Sony phone, but I had to have a customer service rep change my imei online to an HD voice phone. It worked perfectly fine until I bought a different phone and my imei changed online, and I no longer have the old imei I gave to CS.
But I can verify the HD voice limitation is a way for them to force you to own one of their phones. I had full functionality when I had it tricked into working.
Numbersync did use a large amount of battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, that confirmed my suspicions. Now I have about a week to decide whether to keep this watch or return it.
I'm curious to know how the new watch would work with a T-Mobile phone. Any ideas?
Here is an example of the impact of number sync even with the feature turned off on the watch. See the attached battery image. I have the watch as a standalone solution. I have number sync enabled but off on the watch. As you can see the battery drain is unacceptable. By end of my work day 6 pm I had to put the watch to charge since the battery dropped to 4%. Today the experience has been much different. I removed the function off the watch. So the watch had not record of Number Sync pairing. The watch was unplugged all night from 11 to 5 am. It remained at 100%. I wear the watch at night since I use it for its silent alarm. I am currently at 83% after 1 hr run.
I'm wondering if anyone knows how to keep bluetooth enabled for calls while numbersync is on so I can still answer and receive calls from my phones bluetooth through the watch when in range. It seems that feature disables when numbersync is active.
I also had the first release and now the second release of the LG Urbane 2. I have been having significant issues with number sync (messaging only). I only receive intermittent messages. I have done extensive troubleshooting and have also been to advanced tech support (At&t). They finally told me the "Network" was having number sync issues for messaging with the LG Urbane 2 watch and they expect a 30-60 day resolution window. This problem persists even when connected via bluetooth. At&t advised that messages do not sync via blue tooth when number sync is active, it will always use number sync. So anyway, has anyone heard of this issue or did they just tell me that to get me off the phone and get me to hold onto it past the 14 days?
I had huge issues as well. Mine are all fixed. They had to do some changes on their side. Unfortunately, I don't have details outside of a vague comment about profiles needed to be updated. I did not get LTE for days now it's 90% there. Number sync will kill your battery. It would not last even a day on or even when it's disabled,.
All, I updated my opening comments with a video of what I have learned to date. Check it out. If you have experienced something different please let me know
ebpman said:
All, I updated my opening comments with a video of what I have learned to date. Check it out. If you have experienced something different please let me know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome videos @ebpman! I didn't think it was too long at all. It's too bad stand alone music streaming isn't possible yet with the 2nd edition but hopefully it will be soon. That's the only feature I'm really looking forward to.
For battery life, I guess our experiences differ. I haven't had one AW watch that has lasted more than 2 days on a single charge so I think in comparison the 2nd edition watch is comparable to or better than most AW watches out there in regards to battery. With my watch tethered and always on display off, I can get a little over 2 full days. I haven't used my watch in stand alone for a full day but on the days I work out or hike (which is normally 2-3 hrs of untethered time) with GPS and cellular, I can estimate that I could have made it the whole day with some battery left over. I mean your experience might be different because you probably have experience with a ton of wearables and how you use your watch.
Maybe one day I will try to go through a day or two untethered and see how battery life is. I just don't see myself actually doing that in a real life scenario for me.
Please keep the videos coming! I'm getting ready to get a Gear S2 3G for my mom and I watched all of your videos on that. I'm jealous that she will already have music streaming ready to go on the watch. haha
Anyone try this with an iphone. If so does it work well: Notifications such as imessages, text, emails, phone calls through numbersync. I have a gear s2 3g for att, that I need to sell, since I sold my S7 edge. The gear s2 doesn't work with iphone, and I'm hoping this one does. I have the apple watch, but not the biggest fan of it.
Hi
Can you use cellular data on this watch to remotely connect with the phone when not paired with Bluetooth mean not in range?
This is the case with gear S. You can carry only the watch and get all text and messages from the phone to the watch using data.
Does this watch function the same way?
Thanks
gpx said:
Hi
Can you use cellular data on this watch to remotely connect with the phone when not paired with Bluetooth mean not in range?
This is the case with gear S. You can carry only the watch and get all text and messages from the phone to the watch using data.
Does this watch function the same way?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can leave the phone at home and still receive notifications/texts when paired through cell data.
I bought the LTE 2 the other day. The hardware and screen anre fantastic, although it is let down by the software IMHO. The launcher is poor, and the whole experience feels like it isn't quite ready yet and needs a few more iterations to be mature. It's basically a stand alone phone so why can't i have native email, or headset use? It's still set up as a partner to a phone, which is a shame. Can't get WhatsApp without the phone, nor working Google maps, which is irritating as the hardware doesn't need the phone really. Runkeeper doesn't work without a phone, which really takes away the benefit. May as well get a cheaper device which is a true partner to a phone and doesn't require a separate LTE montlhy line.
But i love the look of it and I hope they update the software soon.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using XDA-Developers mobile app
---------- Post added at 08:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:41 PM ----------
Great video by the way. I'm going to try just cellular, and switch off wifi and Bluetooth to see if battery is better . it usually is on my phone...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using XDA-Developers mobile app
After reading through some posts, I want some clarification plz. I picked up AT&T's version of the S2 classic(4g). Battery life pretty bad IMO. I have been connecting through 4G I assume, which I read today that it showing "connected remotely" on both the phone and S2 is using 4G radio, which is the battery killer, correct? Or even worse in standalone, which uses it own cell number correct? So am I just to pair it with BT only?,(showing "connected via BT" on both phone and S2), I too use Numbersync to use only the phones number on the S2. Seems no matter the configuration, all calls, texts and such work correct. The only grip is when a call or text is received, and is answered on the S2, it leaves the missed call or text notifications on the phone. Any way to correct that? Thanks in advance.
You should just use the bluetooth and set the mobile data to connect automatically when needed. That will help some. If it looses bluetooth then it will connect to the Phone with 4g or wifi other than that it turns those radios off.
Hey guys!
Is there any way to force remote connection using wifi instead of BT? For some reason, my phone + gear s3 doesnt connect remotely anymore .. It can only connect via BT. It started happening today. Last night it was fine.
I go to my basement all the time and my BT disconnects due to distance (if i left my phone).
Now im worried its probably a defect. Both my phone and s3 are in the same wifi network. I tried using a different wifi network as well.
Thanks in advanced.
warpgatex said:
Hey guys!
Is there any way to force remote connection using wifi instead of BT? For some reason, my phone + gear s3 doesnt connect remotely anymore .. It can only connect via BT. It started happening today. Last night it was fine.
I go to my basement all the time and my BT disconnects due to distance (if i left my phone).
Now im worried its probably a defect. Both my phone and s3 are in the same wifi network. I tried using a different wifi network as well.
Thanks in advanced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried a reset of the Gear?
Tel864 said:
Have you tried a reset of the Gear?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im trying now.
I don't remember my S3 ever remotely connecting via WiFi. It would do it over the cellular network once I breezed out of Bluetooth range, but it never told me about WiFi.
In fact, the remote connection via cellular is awfully intermittent. The only thing that seems to restore it is a reset of the S3. Even after that, though, I've never seen mine remotely connect on WiFi.
The whole remote connection thing seems to be dicey at best, in my experience.
SFVDan said:
I don't remember my S3 ever remotely connecting via WiFi. It would do it over the cellular network once I breezed out of Bluetooth range, but it never told me about WiFi.
In fact, the remote connection via cellular is awfully intermittent. The only thing that seems to restore it is a reset of the S3. Even after that, though, I've never seen mine remotely connect on WiFi.
The whole remote connection thing seems to be dicey at best, in my experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the opposite mine seems to connect remote over wifi just fine but not really over cell connection.. i have not tested tho.. i will today and update you guys.
Yeah I have never seen it connect to the Phone via WiFi... only via BT. If the watch loses range, it will connect to a Wifi (if it is enabled, Always on or Auto), but would not communicate with the phone. So it's "Standalone, but with wifi".
It worked like this out of the box. Bought the GearS3 in the US. I'm not sure if connecting to phone via wifi is even possible....
I can confirm that it does connect via WiFi although I was totally unaware that it could.
Yesterday I returned to my house from visiting my daughters house and realised I didn't have my phone. Thinking that I had dropped my phone in the car I used my house phone to call my mobile and my S3 on my wrist started ringing. This convinced me that although I couldn't hear it ringing my phone must be in the car but then my daughter answered my phone that I had left at her house! So my mobile was connected to her WiFi and my S3 was connected to my WiFi, which are 30 miles apart, yet but my S3 was synced with my phone.
Half Colin said:
I can confirm that it does connect via WiFi although I was totally unaware that it could.
Yesterday I returned to my house from visiting my daughters house and realised I didn't have my phone. Thinking that I had dropped my phone in the car I used my house phone to call my mobile and my S3 on my wrist started ringing. This convinced me that although I couldn't hear it ringing my phone must be in the car but then my daughter answered my phone that I had left at her house! So my mobile was connected to her WiFi and my S3 was connected to my WiFi, which are 30 miles apart, yet but my S3 was synced with my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's really neat! I've never experienced that.
Samsung ought to create a small app that will reestablish whatever mechanism there is to make the remote connection thing reliable. It's fantastic when it works, but if you're not on Bluetooth, it's a crap shoot if it'll work or not.
One other observation. In my experience, updating Samsung Pay on the phone seems to break whatever mechanism there is for reliable remote connection. Even after logging in/verifying the Samsung Account, it seems to break it. Weird.
Dan
Yeah, it totally blew me when my daughter answered my phone because I was convinced it must be connected by Bluetooth and so in the car.
Half Colin said:
Yeah, it totally blew me when my daughter answered my phone because I was convinced it must be connected by Bluetooth and so in the car.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now wait a min lol.. mine does not do that.. only get notification not calls.. i have a vzw note edge.. what kind of phone do you have? I was thinking when i bought the watch that it would take calls over wifi so i could basically leave my phone in my office and roam around the office and still take calls all on wifi.. that does not seem to be the case for me anyway.. guess i need to do some more testing. If it works like you say then this is great news.
---------- Post added at 08:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:58 AM ----------
also mine says standalone when it has lost the BT from the phone says its connected via wifi..
I didn't say I answered the call on my S3. My S3 buzzed and showed call from home but before I could do anything else my daughter answered the call on my phone. So the S3 was obviously connected via WiFi and internet to my phone (Samsung A5) but what functionality that gives I don't know. Although, thinking about it I did hit reply on the S3 and the home phone rang, which I didn't answer, so who knows.
Half Colin said:
I didn't say I answered the call on my S3. My S3 buzzed and showed call from home but before I could do anything else my daughter answered the call on my phone. So the S3 was obviously connected via WiFi and internet to my phone (Samsung A5) but what functionality that gives I don't know. Although, thinking about it I did hit reply on the S3 and the home phone rang, which I didn't answer, so who knows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gotcha.. still sounds like you could have took the call.. maybe.. Thanks.
Yep, the weird thing is though when I'm at home and out of bluetooth range the S3 goes into WiFi standalone mode although both phone and S3 are on the same WiFi network. Yet, yesterday the S3 was showing connected which was why I was convinced the phone must be near.
So i just tested and i walked across the office and my watch says connected remotely. I called my cell and my S3 did not ring.. it did tell me i had a missed call tho and i got an email while i was over there..
Did you have a reply option to the message because I did? When I tapped reply it said 'connect remotely' to which I said yes.
Half Colin said:
Did you have a reply option to the message because I did? When I tapped reply it said 'connect remotely' to which I said yes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the missed call? or the email? Not sure about email but the missed call notification i tap on it and it pops up saying connect to phone via Bluetooth ? i get a x on the left and a check on the right.. if i hit x nothing happens and if i hit the check it will try to find my phones BT.. Just tested an email.. all i have when i scroll all the way down is delete but i can hit the dots on the right and i have a reply option.. i was able to send a quick reply to myself.. this is all while my phone says connected remotely..
I was just checking the connection dialogue and it says "... remotely via mobile data or Wi-Fi."
Dunno how I missed the Wi-Fi part.
The missed call. All my calls and taps happened over a matter of seconds whilst I was more concerned with finding my mobile than what the S3 was actually doing. The fact that it was doing anything in relation to a call to my mobile was pointing me towards the phone being close. So it seems from your testing, and nothing I experienced really contradicts that, that when you're connected by WiFi you do only get notification of a call. I did tap reply to the missed call and the house phone rang but I can't say for sure that the call was from the S3 because I never answered it and didn't check the S3 again because I was leaving to return to my daughters house.
By the way guys, I had to factory reset my S3 and remote connectivity worked again. I now learned to backup my S3 if this happens again. I rely mostly in remote connectivity thats why this is a big deal for me.
Mind you that I confirmed that I'm connected to WIFI on my phone and I can browse on it too. It just doesn't connect the phone.
I just hope there is a way to force remote connectivity in the settings so I know what going on!
I entered feedback into the Samsung support website about this particular problem. I explained that the remote connection between the S3 and my phone is intermittent. I was very dismayed to get a stock, canned answer back about rebooting my router. This is the second time that I've attempted to address this, once through the chat client and once through email. I'm very disappointed with Samsung's support considering the size of their company. Alas, guidance on how to correct this problem does not appear to be forthcoming.
I have been using my Gear S3, Frontier, LTE version on T-Mobile for close to a year. In looking back over my use, I have discovered that I really don't need the extra expense of the data plan. I always have my paired phone (Galaxy S9+) with me and have only used the watch for phone calls a couple of times. I used the Gear for phone calls a few times when I first got it, and that was to test the service. For real calls, I just use my phone. I DO use Samsung Pay with the watch fairly frequently.
I am considering dropping the cellular plan for the watch. I have turned off mobile data on the watch, and left Bluetooth and WiFi on. Of course, I still get notifications on the watch.
My question is will I lose anything other than phone calls and the remote connection to the watch having cancelled the data plan? Will Samsung Pay still work as long as my phone is within Bluetooth range when I make a purchase?
TIA
The only thing I've lost is the call making ability. Samsung pay still works, even when my phone's in the car. Haven't tested out remote connectivity, but I'm assuming if it's connected to WiFi, you're good